Ford F150 3.5L Eco Boost

[Aage]

I don't think that it will turn out to be a nightmare, nor do I think that you are limited to a 25-footer with that truck.

You will have a weight-distributing hitch, correct?

Someone will revise your numbers for you so you can relax and enjoy your wonderful brand-new truck and trailer.

Now breath deeply and take it easy, OK?

[mojo]

Your dealer was part right, the Ecoboost engine will pull it, but he should have recommended the max tow and max payload package. Not sure what all the differences are between tow and max tow, but 3.73 gears are standard on the max tow. You should be alright with your load with your upgrades, but may be looking for taller gears. I would go back to that dealer and insist they spell it out for you and help you with upgrades if needed.

[xrvr]

The payload is what the truck can carry. Passenger weight, hitch weight, anything in the bed of the truck etc. That is why people who carry generators, scooters, BBQ and all kinds of junk need at least a three quarter tontruck for more payload. Your truck can probably still tow at least the 25 footer, what is the tow weight? Tow weight and payload are two dif things. The weight of the trailer plus the weight of the truck including the payload is the gcvw, I think. Someone will correct me if I am wrong. Jim

[Owltown]

thanks guys GCVW is 15500, the actal vehical weight is 6400 with 2 people sand full tank of gas GVW max is 7200 lbs and yes to weight dist hitch and i have a 3.55 rear end gear plus i added supersprings

[BigAl]

I have f150 supercab with 8 foot box. Ecoboost with max tow and heavy duty payload.
Payload for the truck is 2741 lb and trailer weight is max of 11,300lb.
Covers all airsteams and quite a good payload.
You have to check these numbers carefully before you buy.
Tows in drive at 1500 rpm at 55mph effortlessly and gets 14mpg towing.
I'm happy.
Al

[BigAl]

Ps. That's in us mpg.

[Gene]

Jim is right on GCWR—total weight of truck and trailer, both loaded.

And also right that payload and tow capacity are different.

Dealers can be ignorant (they sell a lot of different things) or dishonest. You always have to check on your own and that can be difficult. Payload is the amount of cargo a truck can take. Sometimes it includes a full gas tank and sometimes it doesn't—I think Toyota includes a full tank, but I don't known what Ford does. Most 1/2 pickups can carry between 1,200 and 2,000 lbs. of cargo. Ours takes around 1,550 lbs. and we have done ok with it.

Calculating tongue weight is also a challenge. You can measure it with a scale—check the owner's manual how to do it. Added to what the company says (and that is not always accurate), is the weight of the propane and the spare tire. But with a weight distributing hitch, weight is transferred forward to the truck axles (about 2/3) and the trailer axles (about 1/3). The hitch weight is attached to the truck, not the tongue, but I ignore it because I am unsure what to do with it.

To calculate tongue weight on the truck, estimate 720 + 100 for propane and spare + more just because = 900 of which 600 goes to truck payload. This is a rough estimate of course. Find out whether a full gas tank goes against payload—call Ford and ask them.

You are apparently following conventional wisdom that usable payload should be 80% of advertised payload. No one has proven that percentage is backed up by any facts, so it is up to you whether to believe it.

Payload on the door sticker does not include options. For example a hard tonneau may weigh 100 lbs, a camper top more. Are running boards an option? This will be tight, but doable I am guessing. Whether gas is included or not becomes very important—I think Ford have around a 35 gal. tank and that comes to 210 lbs. of gas. There are arguments whether modifications to the suspension really make any difference. They will keep the truck more level, and I would think adding a spring to the spring pack and better tires should help. How much payload increases may be hard to determine.

Did you get a tow package? That usually includes transmission cooler, bigger alternator and battery, tow mirrors and maybe more. These are important too and if they sold you a truck without it and they knew you wanted to tow a heavy trailer, you have good cause to good back to them and demand they install the tow package at wholesale. A 3.55 rear end seems low, but also doable. You may not go very fast up long and steep grades, so patience is a virtue. Do you have disc brakes all around the truck? How big are the rotors? Going down is more important than going up.

Also, GCWR is gross combined (truck and trailer) weight rating. That is different than tow capacity—weight of the trailer.

All of this is confusing and you are doing good to ask here what it all means. I hope you are getting some answers that clarify the confusion.

Gene

[Owltown]

door sticker says "occupants and Cargo" i have no idea if that means gas is encluded.
i have tow package and dealer was told i wanted to tow 8500 pound trailer.
all my numbers are close to yours and very close to max on all levels, but under limits.
720 base TW + 10%(1800 CCC) = 900 plus 100 for Weightr dist hitch = 1000 TW. My hitch is good for 1050. so i pass, bairly. with WDH = .75(1000) = 750 added to load capasity plus 300 people , plus 200 gas = 1250 Cargo weight, just at limit. GCVW is way under .. this is why i added the helper springs to help stasbilize but not increase payload. I hope this makes sence. i have been over it so many time my eyeballs hurt

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Owltown

i have been over it so many time my eyeballs hurt

That's normal. The more you learn, the better it will get, but it is a steep learning curve.

"Occupants and cargo" is purposely vague, I suppose. First go through the Ford owner's manual. They tend to bury information, but there may be a specifications section and a towing section. After that, look on the Ford website, then call them and hope the people who answer the phone know something. Push them, ask for a supervisor or engineer if the person you first talk to is reading off an idiot sheet. The dealer is useless—few people at dealers really know what they are selling and will tell you anything to move a truck they want to get rid of before they have to pay another month's loan on it.

Your hitch is fine. It is better not to overhitch.

I believe the standard for leaf springs on a 1/2 ton truck is 3 (some use coil springs on the back, but I think that is Dodge). Adding a 4th should increase payload and the spring shop may have some guidance on this. Heavy duty shocks of a good quality (Bilstein is considered good quality) are also a good idea. My concern is whether other parts of the suspension are up to it, but since it seems the difference between some 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks are a 4th leaf and heavier shocks, you may be ok. I am certainly no expert on suspensions, but others may post on this. Glad to hear you have the tow package—does it upgrade suspension? Brakes? Probably not, but always good to check.

The concern with brakes is that trailer drum brakes are not so great and the tow vehicle has to make up for that. Downshift going down hills and coming to a stop and you'll save your rotors and pads. Hot rotors—especially in hot climates—will warp. Going down long grades with brakes and not downshifting will quickly warp rotors. Eventually it will happen anyway, but I got almost 65,000 miles before replacing front rotors. The Tundra has 13.6" rear and 13.9" front rotors and that seems to be a minimum to me.

Gene

[ROBERT CROSS]

I would un-add the "supersprings". They do nothing to improve towing and may even effect the weight distribution.
Your payload is determined by axle rating, GAWR sticker should be on the driver door jam.

Bob

[Owltown]

lets complicate the situation. the HD tow package has the same axle weight rating as mine, same tires , same radiator and spring setup. Adds mirors and a 3.73 axle and is rated a 450 pounds more payload. Ford tech support corporate said " take the weight of my vehicle (6400 actual with gas and people) , subtract it from 15500 and that is the max i can tow".(9100) i do not know what they have been drinking but... Additionally the dealer put the superspring on gratus. they asid it would help. the more i learn the less i seem to know...

[ROBERT CROSS]

Owltown,

Are these the helper springs the dealer installed?

Looks like they just add sum inches, Don't see how they would "improve" the ride.

SuperSprings SSA28 Install Ford F-150 - YouTube

Bob

[Owltown]

they are called supersprings. the attach to the top to the current spring
SuperSpring Leaf Spring Helper

[Wazbro]

Bob I would say they will hurt the ride while empty and help the ride while loaded near the max load.

[mum@home]

Engine

Axle Ratio

GCWR (Lbs.)

145-inch wheelbase

157-inch wheelbase

3.5L EcoBoost® V6

3.55/3.73

15400

-

-

3.5L EcoBoost® V6

3.55/3.73

15500

9600

9500

3.5L EcoBoost® V6

3.73/4.10

17100

11200*

11100*


Thanks
My F-150 platinum has the 3.55/3.73 Axle Ratio and 15500 GCWR,therfore a 9600LB tow capacity.
I didn't know that you could get a Platinum with the higher ratings.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

Bob I would say they will hurt the ride while empty and help the ride while loaded near the max load.

Agree....

A progressive spring rate would be a better option, for a part-time TV.

Bob

[AirHeadsRus]

Originally Posted by mum@home

Thanks
My F-150 platinum has the 3.55/3.73 Axle Ratio and 15500 GCWR,therfore a 9600LB tow capacity.
I didn't know that you could get a Platinum with the higher ratings.

I was looking and bought the F-150 Larriott package last year. It has the 11,200 tow package and 1761 cargo. The Platinum package could not be purchased with that rating. Difference was in the wheels. Larriott has 18 inch and Platinum has 20 inch. The larger wheels reduced the tow capacity.
At least that is my understanding. That was the only difference I could see between the two that would effect capacities.

[Pileus]

The difference in tow capacity between the 18 inch and 20 inch wheels may have to do with the fact that the stock 275-55R20 size tire has a lesser load capacity. There are only 4 manufacturers of a tire in this size that have an extra load (XL) rating. For example, the Yokohama Prada Spec-X tire in the 275-55R20 size has a load rating of 2833 lb. each. The tire has excellent dry and wet traction, but the tread design (in my experience with this tire) picks up a lot of gravel.
You could go with a larger size tire to get a higher load rating, but then you would change the circumference and overall gear rating which would also affect your towing capacity.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Your payload is determined by axle rating, GAWR sticker should be on the driver door jam.

Bob

Another thing to think about. Axle rating may be more or not than other parts such as springs. Depending on whether Ford uses the same axle on different rated trucks, it may be ok for heavier weights, but another thing to check.

Gene

[Moflash]

Traded my 2010 f150 5.4 SuperCrew 4x4 355 axle for these reasons
1.Pulled my 28ft CCD International with ease
2.Braked just fine with trailer attached.
3.Payload rating was just to low I was maxed out and could not take any supplies,generators,passengers or my dog!
4.Did some investigating and if i was involved in a accident I would be held liable for gross negligence because I had exceeded the intended factory payload limit.Adding extra springs or airbags does not help your case.
5.If you order the HD payload package with the 8ft box and max tow you may be ok,but be sure to add all weights of passengers ,fuel,supplies and hitch to the equation.
In my case I did not feel comfortable so I traded for a 2012 F350 SuperCrew 4x4 6.2 Turbo Diesel with 8ft Box.Just got back from a 2500mi trip and I must say this was the best choice I could of made for my situation.Cost was not much more than a loaded F150 and this is a luxury tow monster!Quiet,comfortable and I can take all my stuff.